Lagos State government extends Okada ban to six more local government areas as from Sep 1

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwoolu has extended the ban on commercial motorcycle taxis known as Okadas to four more local government areas and five local council development areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State with effect from September 1.

In May, Governor Sanwoolu banned the operation of commercial motorcycles on highways and six local governments and nine LCDAs and has now extended this further. Back then, the six local governments affected were Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.

This year's earlier ban in May followed the February 2020 restriction placed on the activities of commercial motorcycles. As the ban keeps getting extended, the local government areas where the total Okada restrictions will now take effect include Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu and Mushin local government areas.

Motorcycle taxis will also be banned from Ikosi-Isheri Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo LCDAs. According to the governor the government took the decision in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 to immediately address the chaos and menace created by the operations of Okada in the listed areas.

Governor Sanwoolu said: “After a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six local government areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated. We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six local governments and their local council development areas.

“This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do. We have given the notice now and we expect all commercial motorcycles plying the routes in the listed councils and areas to vacate the highways before enforcement begins as the enforcement will be total.”

He also assured that the security architecture of the state would not be compromised in any way so that Lagos residents will continue to live their lives and do their business without any fear or favour. According to the governor, the Okada ban is a people-driven initiative.